Building up Mississippi’s capital city of Jackson and helping first-time home buyers will be the focal points of two new Senate study committees.
Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann announced Wednesday that the Senate Study Committee on Jackson will focus on strategies for strengthening and boosting economic activity in the metro area, while the Senate Study Committee on Housing will take a statewide look at addressing the shortage of attainable housing and increasing accessibility for those looking to purchase a home for the first time.
The Senate Study Committee on Jackson, which mirrors the House of Representatives’ Capital and Metro Revitalization Select Committee, will be chaired by Sen. Walter Michel, R-Ridgeland, with Sens. David Blount, D-Jackson, and Sollie Norwood, D-Jackson, serving as vice chairs. Other members will be Sens. Hillman Frazier, D-Jackson, Dean Kirby, R-Pearl, Brian Rhodes, R-Pelahatchie, and Andy Berry, R-Magee.
Hosemann hopes the committee will help officials come up with ways to promote Jackson – which has experienced a gradual population loss over a span of several decades – as a tourism hub while also revamping the city’s downtown area through economic development and entertainment opportunities.
With former Sen. John Horhn now serving as Jackson’s mayor, the lieutenant governor appears more optimistic now than in past years that leaders can make meaningful headway in steering momentum in the capital city’s favor, with the state aiding in that effort.
“For several years, we have discussed the need for a focused effort to unlock Jackson’s economic and tourism potential,” Hosemann said. “With the city entering a new chapter, the time is now to pursue opportunities that will increase tourism, attract investment, enhance downtown, and promote future growth.”
The Senate Study Committee on Housing will be chaired by Sen. Chris Johnson, R-Hattiesburg, and Sen. Rod Hickman, D-Macon, will serve as vice chair. Members are Sens. Gary Brumfield, D-Brookhaven, Scott DeLano, R-Biloxi, Michael McLendon, R-Hernando, Chad McMahan, R-Guntown, and Angela Turner-Ford, D-West Point.
According to Zillow, the average Mississippi home value is $187,882, while the median sale price is $252,167, and the typical interest rate on a 30-year mortgage sits at around 6.5%. With the average household income in Mississippi being $55,060, potential first-time buyers are struggling to afford a mortgage.
“Mississippi faces a growing need for attainable housing,” Hosemann said. “This committee will examine statewide solutions to ensure first-time homebuyers have access to homes where they can live, work, and raise a family in Mississippi.”
Both committees will hold hearings in the coming months to gather information and testimony. They are tasked with producing recommendations ahead of the 2026 legislative session, which will begin in early January.
